RIO DE JANEIRO – President Shimon Peres took part in a Sabbath ceremony held by Rio de Janeiro's Jewish community Friday evening.
The event took place at a special hall in the hotel in which the president is staying during his current visit to Brazil. He was received warmly by dozens of members of the community, who welcomed him with Israeli flags.
Peres gets warm welcome in Rio (Photo: Moshe Milner, GPO)
Israel's ambassador to Brazil, Giora Bachar, told Ynet that the community had been preparing for the event for a long time.
"There was a huge demand by members of the community to meet the president, but the hall was too small to fit everyone in," he said. "A large number of them are seeing the president of Israel for the first time in their home country so they are very excited."
Earlier Peres took part in an economic meeting at the home of the mayor of Rio de Janeiro. The meeting, attended by state officials as well as Israeli CEOs, was intended to bolster the participation of Israeli companies in Brazilian infrastructure, communications, and defense ahead of the 2016 Olympics, which will be held in the city.
"Top of the line Israeli companies assisted China with the Beijing Olympics, and we would love to assist Brazil as well," Peres explained to those present.
"I have with me the finest minds of Israeli industry and we are ready to expand business cooperation with you," he added. The meeting concluded with a decision to establish a committee in charge of the cooperation between the two countries.
Peres' visit was protested by a small number of people carrying Syrian flags, but no violent incidents were reported. On Thursday protestors in the city demonstrated with signs comparing Peres to Adolf Hitler.
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